Effective Prediabetes Treatment

For this study, researchers took 39 subjects with a diagnosis of prediabetes and obstructive sleep apnea were assigned randomly to two groups. Twenty-six participants received treatment with CPAP while the other 13 were given an oral placebo (fake pill). All participants were given a number of diabetes tests both at the beginning of treatment and after two weeks of treatment. These tests included intravenous glucose tolerance testing and insulin response testing.

Researchers found that glucose levels and insulin response improved significantly for those receiving sleep apnea treatment compared to those that got an oral placebo.

More Research Needed

This study is an important start in helping us to understand that the sleep apnea and diabetes connection is not just one-way. Not only do we know that sleep apnea can contribute to diabetes, but now we are learning that treating sleep apnea can reverse diabetes. But it’s just a start. We need more research to be sure.

First, we need larger studies that can confirm the significance of this effect. We also need longer studies that show this effect isn’t just an initial response to sleep apnea treatment that will go away after a few weeks. We need to know whether sleep apnea treatment is a long-term strategy to help control diabetes.